Wicca and the Imaginary Witchcult

Wicca and NeoPaganism are some of the strongest growing religious movements in the 20th and 21st century. Neopagan religions offer an alternative course of spirituality, one that has been embraced by thousands. Wicca and Neopaganism are nature-based religions and spirituality that revolve around the changes in equinoxes, magic, the God and Goddess, and energy.

Wicca claims to be a survival of an underground pre-Christian religion that has been persecuted by the Christian Church and other mainstream monotheistic religions, particularly during the witch trials during Early-Modern Europe (400-1700AD.) The religion remained underground until retired British Civil Servant Gerald Gardner brought it public in the 1950s.

Problems with the theory of an underground religion:

This story is flawed however, and has been shown to be completely historically inaccurate. When observing the records the societies during the witch trials, there is little or no evidence to support the existence of an underground religious movement. The women (and men) being accused were typically common-people all of which were Christian. While some belief in Magic existed, particularly a belief in counter-magic, fairies, and in some cases Shamanism, this was all on the outskirts of Europe where Witch Trials were at a minimum. Although this understanding and these practices of magic existed, they themselves were never one unified religion. The majority of witches that were tried and executed in Europe were most often done by local magistrates while communities that had a strong presence of the Inquisition or the Catholic Church had a much lower percentage of guilty verdicts.

The word "Witch" during this time period also has never been a symbol of a religion, but rather an insult, usually one that is given to women. The magic being performed by accused witches is always malicious. Common accusations Witches included eating babies, stealing milk from cows, and worshiping the devil at meetings called sabots. The Witch was envisioned as an inversion of what was perceived to be good. of Healing and counter-magic was typically done by common-people as well as Charmers and Cunning men, none of which identified as Witches. This is similar to the term "Pagan" which was a word used by the Church to describe non-Christian or village traditions. It was never a name used by any non-Christian religion.

Wicca and Neopaganism came into existence in the mid-20th century. If these stories of an underground Wiccan/Pagan religion are so widely believed, then where do they come from?

The beginnings of this tale starts with Anthropologist Margaret Murray. Murray was hired by the Encyclopedia Britannica in 1929 to write their article and definition of Witchcraft. Murray has previous written one book, The Witchcult in Western Europe.

Murray established the idea on an underground religion that worshiped a horned god and held holidays and celebrations called sabots on the equinoxes. Murray also outlined rituals done by the "witchcraft" religion that she talks about. Murray also asserts that the Christians took the image of the horned god and made him into devil and actively sought out any worshipers of the horned god and burned them. Murray proposed that Joan of Arc was member of this religion as well as the majority of witches burned in the witch trials.

Gerald Gardner largely took his work on developing Wicca from Margaret Murray and incorporated other traditions and beliefs from non-Christian celtic religions and mythology. The idea of a Goddess named Diana was incorporated into the new pagan religions.

Murray's definition of Witches stayed in the Encyclopedia Britannica for forty years before it was removed. Historians eventually discredited Murray due to her subjective interpretation of history and manipulation and citing sources out of context to conform evidence to her theory and story of witchcraft. Many of Murray's evidence from the times of the trials were from forced confessions often led by questions fed from the Malleus Maleficarum, the book used to identify what a witch was of the time. "Margaret Murray's Witchcult" by Jacquline Simpson expands on the problems with Murray's research and work on Witchcraft.

This image of the Witch has grown and been built upon by others who support this image of the past. Documentaries, videos, and books such as "The Burning Times" has continued to try and paint Murray's image of the past despite historical rejection. The mass media have also capitalized on the present image of the witch in movies and TV shows such as Charmed.

Wicca and Neopaganism in Consideration to History and Closing Thoughts:

Despite the historical problems that Wicca has as an ancient religion, it has flourished and continues to grow as a popular path for many individuals. All religions have arguably inaccurate or "sacred history," but this does not detract from what can be learned from these religions and what spiritual insight and strength that people can find.

Wicca and Neopaganism are just as valid as any other religion, and often make some very important statements on problems with modern society. While Wicca may have a strong role to play in religion for years to come, it is important to keep in mind people of the past. Although spiritual connections may be made to those who were labeled and killed as witches, it is important to understand that these people were not Wiccans. To claim that they were is to accept Murray's manipulated interpretation of the past as well as the magistrates and torturers who forced confessions of witchcraft and magic out of the accused. It is important to recognize historically who the accused witches were for what they were. It is also important to recognize who Wiccans and Neopagans are for who they are. Much can be learned from both groups of people.

Sources/Further Reading:

The Witchcraft Reader Second Edition - D. Oldridge
Witchcraft in Europe 400 - 1700 A Documentary History Second Edition - A.C. Kors and E. Peters
The Witch-Cult in Western Europe - Margaret Murray